I wake up in a cot in the corner of a room. Dust and sand cover me and everything else in this room. I wipe the sand from my eyes and sit up. Small bouts of pain still rock my body, but it isn't as bad as it was. I look around and the cot on the other side of the room has Max's stuff on it, but no Max. I get to my feet and walk in the other room.

"Sentinel." Max says, "why are you up? You should be resting." He says concerned and grabbing my hand helping me to the table in the middle of the room. I sit in the chair with a breath.

"They got you good Sentinel." The Knight Captain who cared for me says, "the deathclaw sliced your back a bit but the real damage was to your face, neck, and chest. I gave you a stimpak in those areas, and they look a lot better, but I'm afraid you'll have two long scars up the left side of your face."

I nod, "that's fine, so long as I'm not dead. I've survived a lot worse fates before." I say, "how long was I out?" I ask.

"Not long," the female Paladin says. She's now out of her power armor and I can see her face. She has tanner skin than mine and dark greying hair. She looks to be about fifty. The Knight Captain has all grey hair but only looks a few years older than her. He has a square face and shaved head with a close cut beard. Both of them are quite stocky and muscular for their age.

"It's about noon. You were only out overnight. Knight Price decided to let you sleep while we go through the mission." She explains.

"So what is it?" I ask.

"Knight, why don't you explain. It'll give us a chance to ensure you understand what to do." She says.

Max nods and pulls up a chair beside me.

"We're going to dress as legionnaire soldiers and take a ride from Cottonwood Cove to Needles, their new main base since loosing The Fort." He says.

I nod, "okay, then what?" I ask.

"Then we observe. We take note of their tactics, their supplies, their personnel. If we get a chance, take note of their important personnel. But that's it, it's just a recon mission, nothing more." He says.

"What's the point? Why not just negotiate a contract with them to fight the Enclave?" I ask.

He shakes his head, "it isn't the right time. We don't know what they have, their defenses or strategies. We need to study them more to find a good approach. They're an unpredictable group. This is the best we can do for now." He says.

I nod, "alright. Lets get to it then."

The female Paladin stands and hands us our legionnaire uniforms, "we've been scouting here for months, watching their every move. Originally we were going to go. But the Elder gave us the word over radio that you two were to go in our place. We're to head back and report our findings and your arrival. We won't be here when you return." She says.

"Very well. Thank you Paladin." I say.

"Yes ma'am. We would spare you more supplies, but judging by the look of you we may need them for the journey back with your permission." She says.

"Granted. Be safe on the way back." I say.

She salutes me, "thank you ma'am. Ad Victoriam." She says.

I return the salute, "Ad Victoriam."

They leave the building and I take the uniform from the table. It's a very roman type uniform. Leather straps made into a skirt, minimal steel body armor and a helmet with goggles.

"I'm going in there to change." I say to Max rising from the table.

"Alright. And Ellie?" He says.

"Yea?"I say looking at him.

"I'm sorry. For everything. I almost got you killed yesterday and I don't know what I'd do if I did. You've been a good person to me." He says shamefully.

"How were you supposed to know that would happen? It isn't your fault. Shit happens. Just don't worry about it so much, and get your head in the game. I need you on point for this mission. I'm not trying to get imprisoned." I say.

"Okay." He says.

I go into the other room and change into the legion uniform. I walk out and Max has finished changing as well. The uniforms are very convincing actually. We use extra cloth and armor fittings to hide our pip-boys, which isn't very hard actually. The clothing and leather strips are baggy and distract. We grab our things and head out the door.

Down the hill and to the road to the right and we reach Cottonwood Cove. There aren't many troops here, it'd be easy to over take. We walk closer towards the encampment and I see a fenced off area to the left of the main building and in the inside, what looks like slaves. Crucifix's line the road and slaves nailed to them. It looks like something horrible cooked up by Hollywood.

"Why hasn't the NCR taken this back?" I ask.

"The NCR doesn't see the Legion as a huge threat anymore. The Enclave in recent years has become the biggest threat. They gained a lot of members soon after the war, advertising food, water, shelter, and security to a few different clans and groups on the outer edges of NCR owned land. The current rumor is they plan on taking New Vegas and the securitrons along with Mr. House's research." He says.

"Wow, they're still here on the Vegas strip? I recognize House's name." I ask confused.

"Yes, he wasn't killed during the war luckily. I brokered a deal between him and the NCR to keep him alive. They continue to make him caps, and we agree to provide the strip protection. He's a good military asset as well as a genius. He could help us fight the enclave." He says.

Mr.House was a famous inventor from my time. His face was all over the news as he advertised his gambling hall. But right before the bombs dropped, he disappeared. I figured he'd help save us if anything. I'm just surprised he's still alive. I'll have to ask Max more about it later on. He's piqued my curiosity.

We walk up to what looks like the leader of the camp. He stops us and crosses his arms.

"Where did you two come from? You're supposed to be here guarding the fort." He says sternly.

"There was a slave coming loose from a crucifix down the road. We had to go tighten the nails." Max says.

"Hmm, very well. Help pack the next shipment and escort it to Needles worms. We'll need them." He says.

We run over to the dock on the river. Boxes of supplies are being loaded in, and slaves are tied up and sitting in the bottom of the boat. We help load boxes on the boat and board. when we're done. The slaves cower in fear of us. I feel horrible for not saving them, but sometimes hard decisions need to be made. I make a silent promise to free them somehow if I have the chance.

The captain of the boat boards and starts the engine. We start slowly heading down the stream and going south.